So, let’s discuss some important things to consider before buying earplugs.
We have reviewed many different types of earplugs on the market and found that duck hunting earplugs are the best. They are comfortable, and they will provide you with quality protection from the sound of gunfire.
To find out more, read this article! ... and get your ducks!
So hunting season is here again, your shotgun is clean and ready, you have a supply of ammunition, and you are prepared to go. Your buddy calls you asking if you have a spare safety vest, and while you are talking to him, you realize you can’t hear him that well!
Or maybe you hear a faint ringing sound? If you are a hunter and still have perfect hearing, then you are one of the lucky ones! Hi-visibility jackets are not the only essential safety item when hunting, or doing any kind of shooting. You also need hearing protection, and that is precisely what we are going to discuss in this article.
If require the Best Hearing Protection for this item, and do not want to read the entire article, below are my recommended ear protection.
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When you are shooting, you need to get the right sort of ear protection. It is not the same as when you are on a range or doing something more organized, like skeet shooting.
There can be people where you don’t expect them, so being able to hear what is going on in the environment, even with ear protection, is essential – hearing commands and warnings clearly, and to a lesser extent being able to hear those ducks is also vital.
Note. When referring to duck hunting ear protection, it is the same for any waterfowl hearing protection.
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If you require the best hearing protection and do not want to read the entire article, below are my recommended products.
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I know a great deal about hearing protection, as I left it too late and have bad tinnitus now. This can never be cured, so I am going to have to live with ringing in my ears for the rest of my life. But you don’t have to. I have done all the research on hearing protection – including when duck hunting, and put together all of my findings in this post.
Just keep reading, and in a few minutes you will know the answers to all the essential questions, and will save your hearing – Oh, and don’t forget about your dog’s ears!
As I am sure everyone knows, guns are loud – REALLY loud, and loud noises damage hearing. Usually, this damage to hearing is slow, and it takes several years before there are any noticeable problems. But guns are so loud that hearing damage can be immediate.
When you are shooting duck, you really need the best ear protection. As a hunter, you probably know a few people who shoot regularly and have hearing difficulties.
This does not need to be a problem, and ear muffs do not need to be too expensive to make your hearing last your entire life. But you do need to wear ear protection when hunting, and you need the right type of protection.
When shooting, there are really three types of plug available, depending on the situation:
You want plugs that stop all the sound, or as much noise as possible. On a shooting range, people are firing, and standing in set places, so there is little chance of someone being accidentally shot? So hearing instructions is less critical.
There will be many people shooting, so hearing can be damaged quickly. In this situation, you are best with cheap disposable foam earplugs, with a good quality pair of ear muffs over the top for double protection.
This would not be a good choice of hearing protection for the times you are shooting duck
In this situation, people are going to again be in set positions. So hearing protection is more important than hearing instructions and the environment. You will look around a lot for the targets so that earmuffs may get in the way.
For this type of shooting, a pair of in-ear custom molded ear plugs are probably the best solution. These fit your ear perfectly, blocking most of the sound.
These are the cheaper plugs and stop all sound indiscriminately. They are perfect for places like shooting ranges where there are a lot of shots being fired, as they are better at protecting your hearing.
When hunting, you do not want to be wearing muffs that are so effective that you cannot hear what is going on in the environment around you. Anyone who is firing and cannot hear instructions, commands, or shouts of danger, is a risk to everyone in the area, and themselves.
The number of shots over time is usually much lower than on a shooting range. So the importance of plugs that allow you to hear instructions is of paramount importance!
That’s why here you need plugs that will enable you to hear, but suppress most of the extreme noise that occurs when a gun is fired, so that is it not damaging. These come in electronic form, or plastic with a small hole.
The electronic versions are much better, and have a significant advantage over noise-blocking plugs, or wearing no plugs at all. They work similarly to the more common noise-canceling headphones. The muffs you are wearing still block out as much of the sound as they can, but there is a microphone fitted to each earmuff.
This records the sounds and plays them back into a speaker in the muffs. When a deafening sound is detected that could damage hearing is identified, it is not replayed to the speaker. (You will hear it anyway as it is so loud) Or it is played back at a much lower volume that will now not cause any damage
As everyone knows, guns are loud. Susan E. Terry, Au.D, an audiologist says
“Gunfire is about the worst thing you can do to your unprotected ears. Gunfire is impact noise and is more of an assault on your ears than a constant noise would be. Anytime you’ve got impact noise. You’re going to have issues.”
For example, a typical gun is a 12-gauge shotgun. It is recommended that in your work, wear hearing protection if the volume is an average of 85 decibels. For a quick single sound, about 120dB is considered by most to be safe. A 12-gauge is over 150dB!
“A single blast can cause lasting hearing loss and tinnitus. Once the damage is done, there’s no taking it back.”
Exposure to noise higher than 140 dB can immediately and permanently damage your hearing. Almost every firearm will be louder than this, with large-bore rifles going up to 175dB.
So you can see how important it is to get the best earplugs when duck hunting!
It can affect your life! One hunter said –
“I had a great job offer come up, but couldn’t pass the physical because of my hearing. I’m only 30, can’t imagine how bad it will be if I don’t get serious about it soon.”
This is my recommended plug for duck hunters. It will not be right for everyone; we all are different and have varying budgets. Should you not like these muffs, I also recommend the best in earplugs, and non-electronic plugs at both the start and end of the article.
These ear muffs have over 15,000 reviews with an average star rating of 4.5. With this many great independent reviews, you know you will get the great hearing protection for when you are hunting ducks.
Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Earmuffs gives the wearer fantastic ear protection. It will still allow them to hear the environment with great clarity. These ear muffs will amplify quieter sounds up to 85dB distortion-free. Speech and commands will be readily understandable when wearing these ear muffs. Loud noises above 82dB are blocked – you will still hear them, but significantly reduced.
These are used in the field with comfort, have slim low profile cups for the ears, to keep interference to your shooting to a minimum.
Directionally placed stereo microphones amplify range commands and environmental sounds to a safe 82 dB
Amplification shuts off at 82 dB and patented Air Flow Control technology provides optimal noise reduction in all frequencies.
Ultra-slim ear cups with cut-out means they will not get in the way when shooting
Padded and telescoping headband adjusts for a non-slip, comfortable fit.
Folding muffs for quick storage wherever you are
Connect via cable to smartphone MP3 player, or another device.
Snap-on ear pads make a quick, simple replacement and extend the life of the earmuff.
The damage that sound does to your ears is usually expressed in terms of time and volume. So for example,
All firearms can do damage almost immediately, if you are too close, and do not have any ear protection. Below is an infographic showing how long you can be exposed to sounds of different volumes, with examples.
Please Note: Just because an ear defender is marked, for example, "Gunshot" - it will still cover other things, like "explosions"
If you intend going duck hunting, and will be exposed to sounds of gunshot, they can damage your hearing quickly. If you do not want to lose your hearing, then you need to protect it. Hearing muffs do not need to be expensive and will last you a long time if you look after them properly.
Ideally, you need muff that is going to reduce the gunshots to a level that does not damage your hearing, but will still allow you to for reasons of safety.
If you do not wear some form of ear protection, and you damage your hearing, this damage will be with you for the rest of your life, as it is not possible to repair damaged ears!
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Yes – Shooting has caused tinnitus in many people, especially after they have been shooting a while. How long it takes depends on the environment that you are in, and your own ears.
Tinnitus is most common in people who have been exposed to loud noises regularly over time. However, guns are so loud that even a single shot can cause permanent tinnitus.
Ringing in the ear will typically disappear within 1-2 days. The time depends on how loud the sounds were, and the conditions of the ear. In some extreme cases it may take a up to week.
The ringing should slowly seem lower in volume until it has eventually disappeared. However, you do not need to worry, as you will wear plugs, right?
The average decibels for gunshot is mostly between 140 and 165 dB, which is quite dangerous for the safety of your ears and loud enough to cause hearing loss. The tolerable decibel for the human ear is 70 dB or below. Sound above 85 dB can prove to be damaging for ears and if you are exposed to it for a longer time, it may cause hearing loss.
Which is why using proper ear protection such as earplugs is important. Earplugs that are specially designed for hunter's offer noise suppression and lessen its severity. Silicon and foam earplugs are ideal for hunters or police officers and military personnel.
Yes, soldiers do wear hearing protection in combat to dampen loud noises and to enhance ambient sounds that help them stay aware in difficult circumstances. They are given earplugs for protection against loud gunshots by lowering their intensity.
Most of these earplugs reduce noise by 30dB, which is quite significant because an unprotected human ear can only tolerate 70dB and gunshots are much higher than that so protection is important. Soldiers who do not use ear protections are at a risk of suffering from varying degrees of hearing loss.
Usually, 150 decibels are adequate to bust the eardrums, and 180 to 200 dB is enough to kill a person. A blast of 210 dB can cause an injury to your internal organs such as lungs or kidneys that can lead to death. Wearing earplugs can lower the blow of loud noises by 30dB making them tolerable for you.
70dB is considered a safe threshold for listening. The more the dB is, the less safe exposure time you have before your hearing gets damaged. So if you are constantly exposed to sound more than 100dB, you might suffer from hearing loss.
If you require more information, please check these references
Hunting disturbance and the timing of autumn migration in Anas species , article,“bioone.org”, retrieved on, Wed 29-April-2020
Duck Populations and Kill: an Evaluation of Some Waterfowl Regulations in Illinois , article, “iopn.library.illinois.edu”, retrieved on, Wed 29-April-2020
Insider Tips for hunting waterfowl , article, “books.google.co.uk”, retrieved on, Wed 29-April-2020
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Experience : Hi, I am Nick, and I have suffered with ear problems my whole life, mainly tinnitus. I have tried a lot of products to help protect my ears over this period, and several devices to block out the constant ringing
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